Omi
50
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0km 50
7 Kaua'i
,
Hawai
Niihau
O'ahu
PACIIC
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Mauna Kea
HAWAI'I VOLCANOES
Honolu
Moloka'i
aq
13,796ft 4,205 m
NATIONAL PARK
onolulu
,t NAISTIIAUA
SniKaho'olawe
Su
Kalapana
CHAINOF
Loihi
CRATERS
Seamount
ROAD
Apua Point
The HawaiianIslands erupted
one by one as the Pacificplate drifted
*
over a hot spot in the Earth.Keeper of the
flame, the islandof Hawai'ihouses three
Land Cover
Kaiae
SBarren
outh Pt)
active volcanoes; two, Kilaueaand Mauna Loa,
I Cultivated or inhabited
SForest
lie within the 520-square-ilenationalpark.
E Grassland
1 Scrub or shrub
sledge hammer on a piece of stainless steel wire," cools those samples in a coffee can,
and studies their content. But such intimacy with Earth's most elemental powers has
inspired
him
to step into another realm in his off hogical Surs,
seeking geologicasures
temperatures
in
Hawaiian legend. "It's there," he says. "There are instances where it's clear that what's
described in chant and song is a metaphor for what really happened."
cOne tale describes a jealous Pele torching
the 'hia
forest of her
youngest sister,
Hi'iaka, whom she suspected of stealing her lover. She then killed the lover-forcing
Hi'iaka to dig for his body. Swanson suggests these acts echo the two largest volcanic
Events of Polynesiantimes: a 60-year Kilauea eruption in the 1400s, in which vast
tracts of forest burned, and its rock-flinging summidetect collapse ain ground1500.swelling.
in recent years have we scientists been forlava samples "with
the
proper sequence of even of a
Don says, "but it wasal in thestories steelwe'd
cools
those
samplesight
to look there can,first
THE APOCALYPTIC BLACKNESS of old lava has that end-of-the-world feel to it.
Mand
studies
their content. Butea's
summit caldera, I feel like a sole survivor, my boots has
sliced
open
from the roughand bucklother
realm in his off hours, seeking geologic truawaiian
lava types, the hot,
rumpHawaiian legend. "It's therehoe says. "Thecooler, reinstances where it's clear that what's
which hardensinchant
and
song
is a metaphor fohere. Porous lava nuggets glint green
with olivine, and ndescribests
of volcanic glass calledlous
Pele
torching the's
hair,
which shootyoungestfrom the
Hi'iaka, whom she suspected of stealing her lover. She then killed the lover-forcing
Hiiaka to
dig
for his body. Swanson suggests these acts echo the two largest volcanic
evenStone
airns,
called ahu, built by park
staff
for visitors, mark a trail of sorts through
thiracts
basaltic
bowl. Quiet since the 1980s, the caldera is now staging life's bold return:
in recent years have we scientists been figuring out the proper sequence of events,"
Pioneering
says, "but ite lichensall in thestparts fthe pavement,heforesighttobreak there first."
other
plants can grow. Occasional shrubs droop wlava
has that end-of-thelo
berries. And like
Meandering across Kilauea's summit caldera, I feel like a sole survivor, my boots
sliced open from the rough and buckled earth. Both Hawaiian lava types, the hot,
rumpled cloth called pahoehoe and the cooler, creeping volcanic slag called 'a'a
which hardens into brutally jagged edges-are here. Porous lava nuggets glint green
with olivine, and nests of volcanic glass called Pele's hair, which shoot out from the
hottest pahoehoe, glint gold.
Stone cairns, called ahu, built by park staff for visitors, mark a trail of sorts through
this basaltic bowl. Quiet since the 1980s, the caldera is now staging life's bold return:
Pioneering white lichens frost parts of the pavement, helping to break it down so
other plants can grow. Occasional shrubs droop with tangy '3helo berries. And like
HAWAI'I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK 15